Leisure
London Lecture
By Noel O Neill
Oct 23, 2002, 12:40am

Pictured at the New Zealand Embassy, Thursday October 17th 2002, Russell Marshall, New Zealand Ambassador to Ireland accepts a folder of research documents from Gerry Bracken, a member of the Mayo Historical and Archaeological Society.

The documents relate to the Irish origins of Thomas Bracken, 1841-1896, the composer of the New Zealand National Anthem. The papers will be transferred to the New Zealand National Archives. Thomas Bracken's poem "God Defend New Zealand" was first published in 1879, and was adopted as the National Hymn of New Zealand in 1940.

Gerry Bracken delivered a most interesting lecture at the embassy in which he related the story of "The Life and Times of Thomas Bracken" who was born in Clonee, Co. Meath.

© Copyright 2002 by www.castlebar.ie and the author